A $15-Billion Data Center Made Wisconsin Farmers Millionaires. Some Wish They’d Held Out | Inc.
Developers are acquiring land in Wisconsin for a $15 billion data center campus tied to Oracle and OpenAI's Stargate expansion, making some farmers millionaires. However, some sellers regret their quick decisions, realizing the land's true value stems from access to crucial infrastructure like electricity and water, which developers are willing to pay a premium for.
Developers are reportedly spending billions to acquire land from farmers in Wisconsin to build a massive data center campus. According to county records, land valued at approximately $590,000 has been purchased for as much as $10.2 million, turning some landowners into millionaires overnight.
The project, spearheaded by Vantage Data Centers, is part of a $15 billion campus connected to Oracle and OpenAI's "Stargate" expansion. The high prices reflect not just the land's agricultural or residential value, but critically, its access to essential infrastructure like electricity, substations, water, and fiber optics, which are vital for data center operations. Some sellers have expressed regret, believing they sold too soon, especially as some reported signing documents that prevented them from discussing offers with neighbors, only learning about higher prices paid to others after their own deals were finalized.